Air & Space Smithsonian – September 2019

REVIEWS

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Author Interview

Against All Odds

A NEW BOOK RECOUNTS JOHN CHAPMAN’S

ONE-MAN STAND AGAINST ENEMY FORCES ON A

SNOW-COVERED MOUNTAIN IN AFGHANISTAN.

THE BOOK Dan Schilling, who spent more than 30 years in

the military, and Lori Chapman Longfritz, John Chapman’s

sister, have written an unblinking look at what happened

when a combat rescue went wrong. The story relates how

Chapman, a U.S. Air Force combat controller, fended

off al Qaeda fighters even after he was shot and mortally

wounded. His actions that day in March 2002—for which he

posthumously received the Medal of Honor—saved 23 men,

including a team of U.S. Navy SEALs. The book also reports

on the work and culture of combat controllers.

WHY THE AUTHOR DECIDED TO WRITE IT

“The book actually came to me through Chapman’s sister, my

co-author Lori, who’d been trying to write it for a number

of years. Initially, I agreed only to help

her shape a proposal and introduce her

to my [literary] agent. I wasn’t inter-

ested in going into what—for me—was

my own past. A couple sleepless weeks

followed our conversation, which led

to the realization that I had to write it

because I knew all the parties involved

and had been a combat controller most

of my career.”

A CHAT WITH DAN SCHILLING

Did Chapman’s actions that

morning exceed the call of duty?

Undoubtedly. His decisions were to a

calling higher than duty. It was love for

those he fought with, extending to those

he didn’t even know. Love is not a term

used by people to describe combat, but

it’s accurate in my experience, having

been in combat, and the truest essence

of his actions.

What are the most important skills

a combat controller should have?

Tenacity and a drive to do whatever it

takes to accomplish what is before you.

The best controllers I’ve known were all

intellectually very curious individuals.

Is it typical for a combat controller

to be deployed alone?

Yes, in the sense that they are not with

other combat controllers. Typically,

we are attached to sister special-oper-

ations-force organizations. The result

is that the combat control community

works with the best of every service,

which allows you to learn a diverse set

of tactics. The downside is you are one

man—alone—with the responsibility

for everyone. If you fail, everyone dies.

■ DIANE TEDESCHI IS A SENIOR ASSOCIATE EDITOR

AT AIR & SPACE/SMITHSONIAN. READ THE FULL

INTERVIEW AT AIRSPACEMAG.COM/SCHILLING.

72 AIR & SPACE airspacemag.com